Kailen entered a lovely peaceful room, filled with gentle pieces of pink cloth hanging from the walls, a small table with two comfortable looking chairs were placed in the corner of the room, a large bed present on the opposite side shrowded by another piece of thin transparent cloth.
Kailen followed Celia's lead and walked towards the table and chairs, there was a pleasant aroma lingering in the room along with a cool temperature.
"Please sit, would you like some tea?"
Celia asked gently, Kailen sat on the chair and answered while following her with his eyes.
"Yes please, I'd love some."
It would be his first time drinking tea, another luxury of the upper classes. He was quickly finding the finer experiences, only accessible to the upper classes, were to his taste. He observed her as she placed two small teacups onto the table and poured a ready-made pot of tea gently. As she gracefully completed the movement bending over slightly in from of him, he couldn't help but marvel at her beauty once again.
Her graceful actions and gentle aura created a strong impression on him, after pouring she gently sat opposite him and quietly sipped her tea for a while in silence. Kailen unwilling to break the peaceful silence followed her lead and quietly savored his tea.
Kailen found the silence to be comfortable, he enjoyed Celia's presence greatly even though they'd literally just met. After a few moments, Celia broke the silence as she spoke still with the teacup to her lips.
"How do you find the tea?"
"Very nice, though it's my first time drinking it so I can't really judge."
Celia chuckled before replying.
"I know I can tell, do you mind me asking how you entered this place? You stand out from the usual arrogant rich kids that come here, with your armor you'd have been stopped by the bouncers if you'd come alone."
"I came with Kenneth Carth, not sure if you've heard of him?"
"Yes, I know him he comes here regularly and is usually a source of problems. How is it you're acquainted?"
"Well, we met about half an hour ago, he helped me enter the city."
Kailen laughed embarrassedly, Celia also seemed to find his answer rather amusing. Kailen continued drinking his tea, he didn't lie when he said it was to his taste. Celia silently observed him for a few moments sipping her tea quietly.
"What did you think of my performance?"
"It was beautiful if I do say so, though it was my first experience listening to the harp it sturred many memories and emotions."
Kailen's heartfelt praise resulting in a bright smile forming on her face, he could see her music meant the world to her.
"I'm glad my music could touch you. If you don't mind my impolite question could I know what kind of emotions you felt?"
"Hm, mostly pain, loneliness and helplessness."
The music brought back his memories of his time as a servant, along with his feelings about being an orphan. It was his first time experiencing an art form that could impact his feelings like her music did.
Kailen observed her bright smile slowly dim, though her smile was still present he could tell her emotions had also taken a turn. Celia didn't speak for a few moments, a peaceful silence returning to the room.
"Why did you ask me to talk, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well, it's not often my music touches someone the way it touched yourself. I felt we must have experienced similar emotions once before."
Kailen was taken back for a moment, though he realized it probably wasn't possible to draw such an intense emotional reaction in her art if she hadn't experienced such experiences herself.
"So, are you planning on staying in Lanza long?"
Celia asked gently while slowly refilling her and Kailen's cup after an inquisitive look.
"Not too long, maybe a week or so."
"And what about afterward?"
"Well, maybe you could help me. Have you heard of the Oxford family?"
Celia seemed shocked at his question as she looked at him in a slightly new light.
"I do, they are a powerful military family is based in the capital of Nictra. Why do you need to find them?"
"Well yes, I have a friend there."
Kailen didn't exactly know why he was so comfortable in her presence as he easily talked about information he wouldn't normally to a stranger. Celia's eyebrows raised at his remark, the Oxford family a very influential family in Nictra after all. She had even performed for a few of the family members when she was in the capital.
"It seems like fate that we met then, would you like to travel with me to the Nictra capital? I'm willing to hire you as a bodyguard, I'm not sure about your skill but you'd be an interesting companion at the least."
Kailen was surprised at her proposition, it would be beneficial for him as he didn't exactly know the direction to the capital plus he was low on funds.
"I would like that, though I have some debts to settle here first."
"No problem, we can leave when you're ready. I've overstayed here in Lanza anyway, I'd just come from the capital of Cassar so I'm headed back to Nictra for a while."
After speaking she gracefully rose to her feet, Kailen doing the same.
"Oh forgive my rudeness, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Celia, it is a pleasure to meet you...?"
"Kailen."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kailen. Hopefully, we shall have a pleasant journey together."
"Likewise."
Kailen quietly took his leave from the room, he learned that he would find her here over the next week.
"I'll be sure to visit."
Kailen thought with a pleasant smile plastered on his face as he walked back to meet with Kellen that was waiting outside. Though his smile was extinguished a moment later as he saw the arrogant man Nilen striding around restlessly.
"What did Lady Celia want with someone like you?!"
He asked anxiously with anger seeing him walking out of her room with a smile, he had a crush on her for years. She often came through this city, he often traveled to try and see her more often. Then this scruffy brat comes in suddenly and she takes a liking to him? Nilen's thoughts turned into anger as he let his imagination run wild.
"Well, that's a secret."
Kailen answered with a provocative look and tone, he walked past Nilen and winked at him as he strode confidently out of the room. Nilen's face turning red with rage and embarrassment, his knuckles turning white from his strong grip.